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Entrance Exams for MBA in India 2026-27: Dates, Fees, and Eligibility
Thinking about pursuing an MBA in India? You're not alone. Every year, thousands of aspiring business leaders gear up to take up one or more entrance exam for MBA that open the doors to top management institutes across the country.
This blog is your one-stop guide to each entrance exam for MBA 2026-27, its fees, eligibility and important dates.
Entrance Exams for MBA: Overview
There are multiple entrance exams for MBA colleges. As a student, it becomes overwhelming to keep up with all the exams. Here is an overview of the major exams:
|
Aspect |
Description |
|
Eligibility |
Minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD) in Bachelor’s. Final-year students can also apply. |
|
Entrance Exam for MBA |
Candidates must first appear for one or more entrance exam for MBA such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, or MAT. |
|
Shortlisting |
Based on the score of the entrance exam for MBA, institutes shortlist candidates for further rounds. |
|
Group Discussion |
Shortlisted candidates participate in a group discussion to evaluate their communication and teamwork skills. |
|
Personal Interview |
This step assesses the candidate's personality, motivation, and suitability for the programme. |
|
Final Selection |
Institutes consider scores of entrance exam for MBA, GD, PI performance, and sometimes academic records and work experience for the final selection. |
|
Cutoffs for colleges |
Cutoffs vary by college but are typically high. For example, IIM Ahmedabad (80 percentile for general category), IIM Bangalore (85 percentile), and IIM Calcutta (85 percentile) This varies largely on the overall profile of the candidate. |
|
Top Colleges |
Top colleges accepting these exams include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, XLRI Jamshedpur, ISB Hyderabad, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai etc. |
|
Courses Offered |
Different colleges offer different courses. IIMs generally offer PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) MBA, and some colleges also offer specialised courses such as PGDM in Marketing, Finance, etc. |
|
Mode of Education |
Two-year, full-time residential program. |
Explore key entrance exams for MBA aspirants, including CAT, XAT, GMAT, and others, to understand their structure, eligibility, and selection criteria. To support your preparation and studies, Education Loans for MBA offer financial assistance covering exam fees, tuition, and related expenses.
Once you've shortlisted the right exams, understand the complete MBA admission process after clearing your entrance exam — from application to PI round to final seat confirmation.
Now that you are aware of how your MBA journey is going to look, move ahead to our list covering each popular entrance exam for MBA.
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Upcoming MBA Entrance Exam: Updated List
The following MBA entrance exam list covers important information about the upcoming exams for the 2026-27 cycle:
|
Entrance Exam |
Registration Date |
Exam Date |
Eligibility |
Accepting Colleges |
|
Expected: August - September 2026 |
Expected: November 2026 (CAT 2025 was held on 30 November 2025) |
Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD) |
IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, and over 1,200 colleges |
|
|
Expected: August - December 2026 |
Expected: January 2027 (XAT 2026 was held on 4 January 2026) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT, and over 800 colleges |
|
|
Year-round |
Year-round |
No specific eligibility criteria; candidates of any age and qualification can apply |
ISB, IIMs, XLRI, and over 2,300 global business schools |
|
|
Four times a year (Feb, May, Sept, Dec) |
MAT May 2026: 31 May 2026 (PBT); 14 June 2026 (CBT) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
Christ University, NIILM, ITM, and over 600 colleges |
|
|
Expected: October - November 2026 |
Expected: January 2027 (CMAT 2026 was held on 25 January 2026) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes, and over 1,000 colleges |
|
|
Expected: August - November 2026 |
Expected: December 2026 (SNAP 2025 was held on 6, 14, 20 December 2025) |
Minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) in UG |
SIBM, SIIB, SCMHRD, and other Symbiosis institutes |
Explore the top SNAP-accepting colleges in India, offering premier MBA and PGDM programs, renowned for their quality education and excellent placement opportunities.
Keep visiting the official website of your favourite university to stay on top of their MBA entrance exam application's last date.
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Top Entrance Exams for MBA in India: Key Highlights
Now, let us take a look at each entrance exam for MBA in India one by one.
1. CAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) - coordinating IIM for CAT 2026 to be announced via the official notification on iimcat.ac.in |
| Popularity & Acceptance | Accepted by over 1,200 MBA colleges, including all IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, and more |
| Key Sections | Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude |
| Application Dates | Registration Opens: Expected August 2026 Registration Closes: Expected September 2026 Exam Date: Expected November 2026 (CAT 2025 was held on 30 November 2025) |
| Exam Fees | General: INR 2,500 (CAT 2025) Reserved (SC/ST/PwBD): INR 1,250 (CAT 2025) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD) Final year students can also apply |
To learn more comprehensive details about CAT exam, read this blog.
2. XAT Entrance Exam for MBA
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Conducted by |
|
|
Importance & Acceptance |
Accepted by over 800 MBA colleges, including XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT |
|
Unique Sections |
Decision Making, Essay Writing |
|
Application Dates |
Registration Opens: Expected August 2026 Registration Closes: Expected December 2026 Exam Date: Expected January 2027 (XAT 2026 was held on 4 January 2026) |
|
Exam Fees |
General: INR 2,200 (XAT 2026) |
|
Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline Final year students can apply |
Ready to ace your preparation? Learn more about the XAT exam here.
3. GMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Accepted by | Over 2,300 business schools worldwide, including ISB, IIMs, XLRI |
| Key Sections | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights (GMAT Focus Edition) |
| Application Dates | Available year-round; candidates can choose their test dates |
| Exam Fees | INR 27,500 (approx., GMAT Focus Edition in India) |
| Eligibility Criteria | No specific eligibility criteria; candidates of any age and qualification can apply |
Curious about the exam details? Check out this blog to know more about the GMAT exam.
4. MAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Frequency | Conducted four times a year (February, May, September, December) |
| Acceptance | Accepted by over 600 B-schools, including Christ University, NIILM, ITM |
| Application Dates | MAT May 2026: PBT - 31 May 2026; CBT - 14 June 2026. September and December 2026 sessions: dates to be announced on mat.aima.in. |
| Exam Fees | INR 2,100 (single mode); INR 3,000 (combined modes) - refer to mat.aima.in for the latest fee |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Final year students can also apply |
Discover everything you need to know about the MAT exam in this blog.
5. CMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Importance & Acceptance | Accepted by over 1,000 colleges, including JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, and Great Lakes |
| Key Sections | Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Application Dates | Registration Opens: Expected October 2026 Registration Closes: Expected November 2026 |
| Exam Date | Expected January 2027 (CMAT 2026 was held on 25 January 2026) |
| Exam Fees | General: INR 2,000 Reserved: INR 1,000 (refer to cmat.nta.nic.in for the 2027 cycle update) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline Final year students can apply |
Want to dive deeper into the exam requirements? Find out more about the CMAT exam here.
6. SNAP Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Symbiosis International (Deemed) University |
| Unique Sections | General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative-Data Interpretation-Data Sufficiency, Current Affairs |
| Application Dates | Registration Opens: Expected August 2026 Registration Closes: Expected November 2026 Exam Dates: Expected December 2026 (SNAP 2025 was held on 6, 14 and 20 December 2025; up to 3 attempts permitted) |
| Exam Fees | INR 2,250 per attempt (SNAP 2025) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) Final year students can apply |
Read this blog to learn more essential information about the SNAP exam.
7. NMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted in a 45-75 day window | Typically from November to mid-December |
| Attempts Allowed | Up to 3 attempts per cycle (1 attempt + 2 retakes) |
| Application Dates | Registration Opens: Expected August 2026 Registration Closes: Expected October 2026 Exam Window: Expected November - December 2026 (NMAT 2025 was held from 5 November to 19 December 2025) |
| Exam Fees | INR 3,000 + taxes per attempt (NMAT 2025) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline Final year students can apply |
Looking for comprehensive exam insights? Uncover all the details about the NMAT exam here.
Other than these, there are a few other notable MBA entrance exam 2026-27 that premier colleges in India accept. Let’s quickly look at each entrance exam for MBA accepted by colleges other than IIMs and state universities.
Other Notable MBA Entrance Exams
If you couldn’t make it through any one of the above entrance exams for an MBA, don’t worry! You could target more tests and still land at a top college:
|
Entrance Exam for MBA |
Registration Date |
Exam Date |
Eligibility |
Accepting Colleges |
|
IIFT MBA application: Expected September - November 2026 (alongside CAT 2026 registration) |
From the 2026-28 batch, IIFT MBA admission is via CAT scores (no separate IIFT entrance test). Verify the latest on iift.ac.in. |
50% marks in UG (45% for SC/ST/PwBD) |
IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada |
|
|
MAH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) |
Expected: January - February 2027 |
Expected: April - May 2027 (MAH MBA CET 2026 was held on 6, 7, 8 April and 9 May 2026) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
JBIMS, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, and other Maharashtra institutes |
|
TISS PG (via CUET PG / CAT) |
TISS PG: through CUET PG 2026 or CAT 2025/2026 windows (refer admissions.tiss.ac.in) |
TISSNET has been discontinued from the 2025 admission cycle; TISS PG admissions for 2026 are based on CUET PG 2026 / CAT 2026 scores, followed by TISS-PAT and OPI. |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
TISS Mumbai, Tuljapur, Guwahati, and Hyderabad |
|
TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) |
Expected: March - April 2027 |
Expected: May 2027 (TANCET 2026 was held on 9 May 2026) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
Anna University, PSG Institute of Management, and other Tamil Nadu colleges |
|
IBSAT (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) |
Expected: July - December 2026 |
Expected: December 2026 (IBSAT 2025 was held on 27-28 December 2025) |
At least 50% marks in Bachelor’s |
ICFAI Business Schools (IBS) across India |
|
KMAT (Karnataka Management Aptitude Test) |
Expected: July - October 2026 |
Expected: September - October 2026 (KMAT 2025 was held on 7 September and 25 October 2025) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
169+ AICTE-approved MBA colleges in Karnataka |
|
TG ICET / AP ICET (state-level integrated tests) |
Expected: February - April 2027 |
Expected: May 2027 (TG ICET 2026 was held on 13-14 May 2026 by TGCHE via icet.tgche.ac.in) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline (50%; 45% for reserved categories) |
MBA / MCA colleges in Telangana (TG ICET) and Andhra Pradesh (AP ICET) |
|
MICAT (MICA Admission Test) |
MICAT Phase 1: Expected September - November 2026; Phase 2: Expected December 2026 - January 2027 |
Expected: Phase 1 in December 2026, Phase 2 in February 2027 (MICAT 2026 Phase 1: 6 December 2025; Phase 2: 13 February 2026) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
MICA Ahmedabad (PGDM-C and PGDM) |
|
JIPMAT (for IIM Jammu / IIM Bodh Gaya IPM) |
Expected: March - May 2027 |
Expected: May - June 2027 (JIPMAT 2026 was held on 7 June 2026 by NTA) |
Class 12 (10+2) pass with minimum 60% (55% for reserved categories); aimed at IPM applicants |
IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) |
|
ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions) |
Multiple sessions (February, May, July, December) |
Multiple dates each year; check atmaaims.com for the 2026-27 schedule |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
600+ business schools across India |
Minimal Documentation. Higher Chances of Approval. Easy Online Processes. Check Your Eligibility.
Entrance Exams MBA: Syllabus
The subjects and syllabus for most of the entrance exams for the MBA are similar and overlap. But you must have a good understanding of them so that you can prepare accordingly.
Here is a comprehensive MBA entrance exam list covering their subjects and marking scheme:
|
MBA Entrance Exam Name |
Subjects |
Positive Marks |
Negative Marks |
|
+3 per correct answer |
-1 per incorrect answer (MCQs) |
|
|
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
|
|
Varies by section |
No negative marking |
|
|
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
|
|
+4 per correct answer |
-1 per incorrect answer |
|
|
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking (per SNAP 2025 pattern) |
|
|
+3 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
|
|
IIFT (via CAT) |
|
As per CAT pattern |
As per CAT pattern |
|
MH-CET |
|
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
|
TANCET |
|
+1 per correct answer |
-1/3 per incorrect answer |
|
IBSAT |
|
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
|
KMAT |
|
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
|
TG ICET |
|
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
|
ATMA |
|
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
If you need more information regarding the syllabus for any entrance exam for MBA, you can also read this blog.
Exam Fees for Major MBA Entrance Exams
An MBA is one of the significant investments in your future. It starts right from the application fees. Propelld helps you finance your MBA with student-friendly education loans. If you are interested, click here to learn more.
Here is an MBA entrance exam list with their respective fees (last revised for the 2025-26 cycle; refer to each official portal for the 2026-27 cycle update):
| MBA Entrance Exam Name | Exam Fee |
|---|---|
| CAT (Common Admission Test) | General: INR 2,500 Reserved (SC/ST/PwBD): INR 1,250 |
| XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) | INR 2,200 |
| GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test - Focus Edition) | INR 27,500 (approx.) |
| MAT (Management Aptitude Test) | INR 2,100 (single mode); INR 3,000 (combined modes) |
| CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) | General: INR 2,000 Reserved: INR 1,000 |
| SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) | INR 2,250 per attempt |
| NMAT by GMAC | INR 3,000 + taxes per attempt |
Discover the exam fees for major MBA entrance tests like CAT, GMAT, XAT, and NMAT to plan your application process efficiently. To ease the financial load, Education Loans for MBA can help cover these costs along with other academic expenses.
Also read: MBA Course Fees in Top Colleges in India
MBA entrance exams in India can be confusing for aspirants. With different dates, fees and eligibility criteria, choosing the right exam can make a huge difference in getting into a top B school. Stay informed and prepared and you can navigate the admission process better and get into your desired MBA program for the 2026-27 cycle.
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Choosing the right entrance exam is crucial for securing admission to top MBA programs in India for 2026-27. By understanding the dates, fees, and eligibility criteria, you can better plan your preparation and increase your chances of success. Stay informed and start early to ensure you meet all the requirements and achieve your MBA goals.
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